Kidnappers prefer Bitcoin over bags of money.

These days, there’s a new preferred method for hostage takers: the virtual currency Bitcoin.
At the moment, a single Bitcoin can be sold online or on the street for around $290.
“The criminal underground very much likes Bitcoin,” said Curt Wilson, a senior threat intelligence analyst at Arbor Networks.
“It’s enabled a greater sense of obfuscation.” Bitcoin, which was released by an anonymous creator in 2009, has recently been gaining mainstream appeal.
The other victim, Roger Ver, threw off his attacker by offering a Bitcoin bounty of roughly $20,000 for his attacker’s arrest.